{"id":3069,"date":"2025-03-18T07:30:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T06:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/?p=3069"},"modified":"2026-01-03T02:10:44","modified_gmt":"2026-01-03T01:10:44","slug":"caffe-gilli-the-oldest-cafe-in-florence-and-its-fascinating-history","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bestfreetour.com\/zh\/2025\/03\/18\/caffe-gilli-the-oldest-cafe-in-florence-and-its-fascinating-history\/","title":{"rendered":"Caff\u00e8 Gilli: The Oldest Caf\u00e9 in Florence and Its Fascinating History"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A Loggia Turned Caf\u00e9: The Origins of a Florentine Landmark<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

At the corner of Via delle Oche and Via dei Calzaiuoli<\/strong>, there once stood a loggia<\/strong>, still recognizable today by the archways of the surrounding shops. This loggia belonged to the Adimari family<\/strong>, part of the influential Guelf faction<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Renaissance Florence, owning such a structure was a symbol of status<\/strong>, serving as a venue for weddings, celebrations, and receptions<\/strong>. However, this particular loggia earned the nickname “La Neghittosa”<\/strong> (from the Latin neglectus<\/em>, meaning lazy or idle) because it became a gathering place for loafers and idlers<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Over time, the loggia was converted into a tavern<\/strong> and eventually absorbed into surrounding buildings<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Birth of a Sweet Tradition: Gilli\u2019s Swiss Origins<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1733<\/strong>, the Swiss Gilli family<\/strong> opened “La Bottega dei Pani Dolci”<\/strong> on Via Calzaiuoli<\/strong>, specializing in pastries, sweets, and confections<\/strong>. The shop quickly became a favorite among Florentine locals<\/strong>, leading Andrea Gilli<\/strong> to open an even more luxurious patisserie and confectionery shop<\/strong> in 1893<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This new establishment, named “Maison Gilli,”<\/strong> was located at the ground floor of a building in Piazza Vittorio Emanuele<\/strong> (now Piazza della Repubblica<\/strong>), on the corner of Via degli Speziali<\/strong>, directly across from the famous Caff\u00e8-Concerto Trianon<\/strong> (now home to Rinascente<\/strong>).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After Luigi Gilli\u2019s<\/strong> passing, his eldest son sold the business to the Frizzoni family<\/strong>, also of Swiss origin. Despite the continued sale of sweets and chocolates<\/strong> at the original Via Calzaiuoli<\/strong> shop, the Gilli caf\u00e9<\/strong> at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele became the preferred meeting place for Florence\u2019s upper and middle classes<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A New Chapter: Gilli During the 20th Century<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In 1917<\/strong>, during World War I<\/strong>, Settimo Frizzoni<\/strong> relocated the caf\u00e9 next to another Florentine landmark<\/strong>, Caff\u00e8 Paszkowski<\/strong>. After undergoing modernization<\/strong>, Gilli was redesigned with two main halls<\/strong>\u2014one dedicated to pastry-making<\/strong> and the other a tea room<\/strong>, along with an outdoor seating area<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the early 20th century<\/strong>, Caff\u00e8 Gilli became a hub for intellectuals, artists, and writers<\/strong>, hosting Futurist artists<\/strong> such as Filippo Tommaso Marinetti, Umberto Boccioni, Carlo Carr\u00e0<\/strong>, and others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Icon of Belle \u00c9poque Elegance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To this day, Caff\u00e8 Gilli<\/a> retains its Belle \u00c9poque charm<\/strong>, making it one of Florence\u2019s last historic caf\u00e9s<\/strong>. Inside, visitors can admire:<\/p>\n\n\n\n